Handmade School Hair Ties

Not sure about your little treasure but my Rosie goes through lots of hair ties.

She also has lots of hair. 

Like me.

And it is often a struggle to get her to put it up for school, and for me to satisfy her inner-diva as she always wants it to look "amazing" and has a new style to try every week.

When I saw some ribbon at the local haberdashery shop [yes it's cute and very "Nanna"] that stocks all of our school uniforms, I thought I might have a go at making some school hair ties.

I checked on YouTube to find a tutorial about how to curl fabric ribbon, and it's really as simple as winding the ribbon around a stick and baking it!

So that's what I did.

I used a piece of bamboo garden stake I found in our yard supplies and cut it to size 

to fit on a baking tray. I wound the ribbon around the stick and used 

2 wooden pegs to fasten each end.

I placed it on the baking tray and baked at 200 degrees celsius for 25 mins.

After it has cooled you simply unwind it and your ribbon has a permanent curl.

Cut the ribbon into smaller lengths,  

put a few together and stitch them in the centre to fasten them.

I also made another design with some of the uncurled left over ribbon.

Then comes the attaching step.

You may choose hair ties or a clip perhaps to fasten your ribbons to,

but whatever you decide a hot glue gun makes easy work of it, messy but quick!

Once the glue is dry, that's it!

We tried them out and they passed the test . . .  she likes them!

Next time I might try a mixture of school colours.

Happy Sewing!

Peasant Dresses

Searching the web as I do, looking for other crafty people from whom I might steal inspiration and ideas, I came across this great site . . .

Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom.

She does it all, cooking, crafting, sewing, kids activities and homewares.

And FREE PATTERNS!

So once I saw the Peasant Dresses Pattern, I knew that I had to try it.

They are really very simple.

And I made a few . . .

So cute!

You can find the free pattern here.

HAPPY SEWING!

60's House - Update

The renovations of our 60's house have slowed somewhat, 
as we let life take over and enjoy just living here.

Our house still needs a lot of work and being patient about this 
is not my strong point but it is a lesson I am learning  . . . slowly.

We have added and completed many tasks in the last year, 
one of the major ones being the front deck.

We completed it just before Christmas last year and I have loved
how it has changed how we use the space. Outside is now inviting 
and used often for twilight dinners or picinic lunches on the weekends.

I love how, when we open up the large glass sliding door from the 
lounge room to outside, the kids footsteps don't even miss a beat 
as they run through; playing and enjoying both spaces.

Rosie refuses to call it a deck, she corrects us and insists that it's
called a stage instead. And there has been many a concert performance
in the last year believe me.

I also love that we built it ourselves. Luke and his ever brilliant design,
me and my motivational, rose coloured glasses outlook - pushing forward
to make it happen. The kids helping and laying out planks, countersinking
the screw holes. It is all of our sweat that made it happen. And now we 
get to enjoy it. And I can honestly say I can build a deck. 

And as we slowly plod through the never ending list of jobs that will 
invertibley take us years to complete, we take pleasure in the small things.

Like this great fabric that came to us as a present and made just the right
kind of artwork for our vast bedroom wall. Just the right shade of grey and
ever so retro in it's colour and patterns.

We take pleasure in the small things and learn to wait for the rest.

Back in the swing . . .

Lately I have been able to squeeze in some sewing time 

[mostly late into the night] and it reminds me how much I miss making things.

These are all presents for Rosie's friends.

While these singlets are really very simple, I have found that kids 

just  love to have 

their "Letter" on a shirt. 

They make a unique and personal gift for kids and adults alike.

And these felt crowns are super cute!

So many colours and designs to play with.

Rosie has helped with each one, picking the fabric and the designs for the shirts.

She even helped stitch around the felt leaves. 

With any luck she'll be making the gifts for her friends birthday parties soon!

Vintage Bunting.

Recently I saw this cute as bunting on Pinterest and loved it.

So when I was handed a stash of doilies from a lady at church,

I knew just what to do with them!

 Some easy and adorable vintage bunting.

I made this one for a newborn baby girl who I have yet to meet.

And then I made a singlet too.

Just cause I was feeling crafty.

It feels good to spend a few hours with a cuppa and my sewing machine.

We had a good catch-up, her and I.

Ahoy there!

Ahoy there - a pirate party awaits.

 New special singlets for little pirates.

Ready to walk the plank, plunder and pillage!

Under the Spell of Red!

I am loving all things red at the moment as I watch the touches 

of red bring my evolving kitchen to life.

I bought some beads and red ribbon from Spotlight and made 

these two necklaces this afternoon while

catching up on Sesame Street with the kids.

And the shoes were a Big W bargin - only $10!

Spring is most definitely here so bring on the colour.

Crochet craft fix.

Now that my sewing machine and all of my craft 

bits and pieces have been packed away ready to move house,

I found I needed something to keep me busy and feeling crafty.

So when my sister and I came across a great pile of wool and the start of 

a few beautiful "Granny Blankets" at my mum's house the other day,

and we were both inspired to start our own.

And this is the start of mine.

I hope the inspiration lasts as I would like to make 

nine medium size square blankets to make a queen size doona.

Maybe it will be done for next winter!

Homemade Pesto.

Stage one . . .

  

Stage two . . .

 Stage three . . .

One big bunch of basil leaves

half a packet of cashews

a big chunk of romano cheese
four big cloves of garlic

three lugs of olive oil

juice of one lemon

enough water to blend it all

and salt and pepper to taste.

Equals - Beautiful, green pesto.

Birth Announcement Banner

 

Beautiful baby Evie was baptised on Sunday,

and as a pressie from her Aunty and 

God-Mother, I made her this

Birth Announcement Banner.

It's to hang on her door and 

always be a reminder that

she is a princess.

It's also good to have something

that gives the details of birth, 

cause mums and dads forget 

sometimes.

The crown can also be 

untied and worn.

Cause pretty things are

nice for looking at,

but much better on!

His and Hers.

Nappy Knicker's Sets for Him and Her.
Boys and girls size 00.

Making a few sets getting ready for the Esty store my friend Katherine is organising.

These will be for sale, how much should I put on them?

Darling little Doilies.

Recenlty my Nan and Pop have needed to upgrade their care, 

and made the move to a Nursing Home.

As my Mum went through all their belongings to try and downsize,

she came across a stash of beautiful doilies. 

She let me have the whole lot, cause I was so excited about

what I could do with them.

Pretty additions to singlets for little girls 

and big girls too.

This size 1 singlet is part of the pile of crafty things I have been 

making for my friend Katherine's Esty Store. 

She is creating the store to help a missionary couple with raising funds

for their trip to China to work in an Orphanage. 

Check out her amazing blog and all her wonderful 

crafty creations here, and all about the Esty store here.

I will keep you posted about the store, 

and let you know when it opens!

Be my Valentine!

Since I graduated from my 2 year Diploma course 

I have had some more time to explore and enjoy the blog world. 

This has meant that I can troll sites for fun and creative things to do, 

and then actually do them!

I have fallen in love with the site About Orange and their

free downloads and cute ideas.

And when they featured a Valentine's card I tinkered with it

and made it my own.

You can check out their free dowloadable Valentines cards here.

This card for my sister. 

The front page looks like this, 

And the inside looks like this.

  

This great blog About Orange also profiles some great fonts 

and being a font lover I decided to do a card for my hubby Luke, 

when I discovered this awesome Star Wars font. 

You might be able to cut and paste these and copy them for 

your Valentine. Or check out About Orange for more inspiration.

12 Days of a Crafty Christmas.

The Seventh Day of a Crafty Christmas: Summer Pj's #2

 After shopping for a few hours and not finding any cotton pj's 

for Eli and Rosie I deicide that I should just make them. 

This pair are for the little girl and this pair 

are for the boy. 

I loved the cute jarmies I found at Peter Alexander and 

almost bought these for Rosie and these for Eli but 

could not justify that money when they grow so quick!

I am a stinge I know, and also a daughter of my mother

who has been known to do the same thing.

And hand-made is so nice!

12 Days of a Crafty Christmas.

 The Fifth Day of a Crafty Christmas: Summer Pj's

These cool boys pj's were made in just over an hour

and with cotton boxer shorts and a bonds singlet,

they make for very cool jarmies indeed.

They are to go in Eli's stocking and while I looked long and 

hard in the stores to buy a pair, they were all made out of

hot and sticky t-shirt material. And made of polyester!

I hope they fit, cause can't try them on him to check!

12 Days of a Crafty Christmas.

The Fourth Day of a Crafty Christmas: DIY Christmas Shirts

 At our recent BusyBodies
Playgroup break-up,

we made our own Christmas shirts.

Some clever mummys cut out the 
felt and used the iron to "No Sew" the patterns 
and shapes onto the singlets; 
then let the kids loose with the fabric paint pens. 
They look so cute and I especially love the 

"bits and pieces" Christmas Tree that Arti made out

of some of the scraps. 

Felt is a great material to work with, 
you don't have to hem it - it doesn't fray, 
 it is colour safe - washes without running or bleeding, 

and it gives a fluffy and fury texture. Try one at your house soon.

12 Days of a Crafty Christmas.

  The first day of a Crafty Christmas:  An Advent Wreath

I made this wreath in less than half an hour, 

using some flat pressed cane I found at Spotlight

a thin white ribbon and a thread of shiny beads.

Hung on the front door it replaces the tired 

looking, fake green thing from last year.

LadyBug Picnic.

"1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 11,12 and the ladybugs came 

to the ladybug picnic."

Elizabeth Mitchell has a wonderful collection of childrens folk songs and we discovered them only recently searching through ITunes, looking for kids songs to put on the Ipod for the car. 

I was getting kinda tired of the same 20 songs that were on the kids playlist so I went searching for something a bit different, and I found a few wonderful albums that are so peaceful and dreamlike, that they really took me back to the songs I remember when I was a child.

We have been singing happily along to these gorgeous tunes in the car, and this song in particular inspired me to create a toy of sorts that allows the song to be acted out. 

There is something magical about Ladybugs and my kids have loved playing with the one I made for them, so I made another for a gift, to take to a kids party this weekend.

 I know the new owner will love the Elizabeth Mitchell song as well as the present.

The leaf is slightly padded and has a pocket on one side that holds the picnic rug and the 12 ladybugs. 

You can re-live the magic of this song here, and listen to some more of her delightful music as well. The album is called "You are my Sunshine" and I have been singing this particular song to my kids for years, as it was sung to me.

Now Rosie can count to twelve with great ease and a certain sing -song in her voice . . . we'll have to teach her about thirteen and the rest soon!